Dr. Saikat Sarkar - Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon

Q. What is the common age for Lumbar disc prolapse(slipped disc)?

It is common in the age group 30yrs to 50yrs but it may happen below and above this age group.

Q. What is the common symptom of lumbar disc prolapse?

Usually low back pain radiating along the leg (one or both) is the common presentation.Along with pain there may be numbness or weakness of the leg.In cauda equine syndrome there is associated bladder/bowel involvement.

Q. What is the treatment for lumbar disc prolapse? Operation?

No, not always. Most of the time(80-90%) pain decreases significantly with medicine/physiotherapy etc, but in 10 to 20% patients need surgery.

Q. When surgery is needed for disc prolapse?

If pain persists significantly even after 6-8weeks of conservative treatment or if the pain is unbearable and not relieved by medicines orif there is progressive neurodeficit.Cauda equine syndrome is an emergency and need surgery at the earliest.

Q. What surgery do you do for lumbar disc prolapse?

Lumbarmicrodiscectomy.

Q. So after surgery it's a bed rest for 7 days?

No usually the patient can walk four hours after lumbar microdiscectomy and is discharged that day or the next day.A hospital stay of 12 to 24 hours is required.Usually the pain relief is almost immediate.(Please see videos in spine cases)

Q. How long will be the incision?

Its usually 2 to 3 cm

Q. What are the complications?

Nerveroot damage/csf leak/post op discitis etc may happen but the incidence is very very low with modern equipments and in trained hands.